New town centre to be created in North Yorkshire as Catterick Garrison expands

Two six-month long projects will kick off next month to create a mix of community, recreation and leisure facilities as well as retail, medical and residential accommodation at Catterick.

Troop numbers at Catterick Garrison, which is already the largest Army base in the UK, are expected to rise by more than 50 per cent by 2031, under plans for a major expansion of the barracks. Once the expansion plans are completed, Catterick will also become one of the largest settlements in North Yorkshire.

Richmondshire District Council is working with the Ministry of Defence on two schemes which will be centred on Catterick’s Shute Road and Richmond Road, close to the new Princes Gate shopping centre.

“Whilst the Princes Gate scheme has been a success it does not provide a ‘sense of place’ and there is a desire to build a community focal point to underpin the wider Garrison growth predicted within our Local Plan,” said council leader Angie Dale.

The first study will create a framework for planned development and town centre management to deliver a stronger modern centre focused around Shute Road and Richmond Road offering a range of services and facilities.

The project vision is to support growth so that services, facilities and high-quality public realm and housing and employment development can be provided to meet the demands of a growing district.

The second study seeks to improve sustainable transport routes throughout the Garrison area itself. It will look at providing a network of walking and cycling routes integrating the older parts of the town centre with the new retail destinations through connecting existing routes and establishing a new link.

Major General David Southall, the Ministry of Defence’s Director of Basing and Infrastructure said working with the Local Enterprise Partnership and council will “underpin the successful re-development of Catterick Garrison”.

He said: “We are working closely with our partners to provide the whole community with a distinctive and vibrant town centre, accessible via a network of new and improved sustainable transport links.

“We all recognise forthcoming works at Catterick will have far-reaching benefits for those who live and work in the town, as well as the wider Richmondshire community.”

David Kerfoot, who chairs the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, which aims to promote economic growth in England’s largest county, said the linking of Catterick town centre to the growing Garrison base was “an exciting opportunity which will bring much to the area in terms of both economic growth and community facilities.

“The mix of residential, leisure, retail and medical services which are well connected will help create a true sense of ‘place’, an important and a key part of our LEP strategy.

“The feasibility studies are the first steps in creating an ambitious town centre which will bring huge benefits to not only Catterick but the wider community of Richmondshire.”

The MoD has now instructed the consultants WYG to analyse the impact higher troop numbers could have on the town and the local area, with building work expected to begin in 2023.